Top 5 Spa Trends

Saunas have long been a stable at spas, but a new twist on the sauna experience has suddenly brought this oft-overlooked part of the spa experience to the forefront of everyone’s minds. And that’s the infrared sauna.

Infrared Therapy

Infrared may sound a bit out-there, but it’s harmless, being the same light babies used to keep babies warm in incubators. Infrared saunas, on the other hand, induce extreme sweating and are said to have dozens of benefits, helping your body release toxins such as heavy metals like mercury and lead, as well as helping you lose weight, relax, relieve pain, increase circulation, purify skin and even burn calories.

Fast becoming one of the most sought-after treatments around, you only need to check sites like Treatwell to see dozens of spas and salons across the country offering this vital therapy.

Yoga and Meditation

Relaxation and rejuvenation of the body is no longer enough for many spa-goers, according to wellness holiday experts at Health and Fitness Travel, who report a marked rise in the number of people seeing out spa retreats that offer activities that aid mental unwinding such as meditation and yoga.

Champneys now include workshops on dealing with stress, personal relationships, career goals and even having more fun as a standard part of their spa retreat packages. Sessions are also available in areas such as mindfulness, nutrition, fitness and meditation, so that spa-goers leave the resort with long-last strategies to assist them in tackling everyday life and are equipped with “a new level of self-awareness,” according to the leading spa chain’s website.

Hoping on the back of this burgeoning trend, the Aman Spa at the Connaught Hotel has recently launched 20-minute mediation classes held midday to fit in with the lunchbreak of busy Londoners.

Face-freezing

It may sound a bit scary, but face-freezing using liquid nitrogen is fast becoming one of the hottest facial trends. Subjecting the face to extremely cool temperatures is said to have multiple benefits according to skincare experts, such as reducing wrinkles, firming up the skin and boosting radiance.

In what has been compared to a toxin-free version of botox, a device filled with liquid nitrogen is placed next to the nerves that control the muscles that lead to frown lines and wrinkles. The liquid nitrogen, which is extremely cold, is said to paralyze the targeted nerves meaning that the muscles cannot move. The treatment is said to have immediate effects, with muscles relaxing instantly, and the effects are said to last up to four months.

While liquid nitrogen is still pretty cutting edge in the beauty industry, many spas and salons are adapting their treatments to include cheaper and more accessible ways of incorporating cool temperatures. Cheryl Cole is said to be a fan of the ‘Ice’ Cryotherapy Super Facial, originally brought out by Parisian brand Anne Semonin, which includes a deep cleanse and exfoliation, followed by a puff-reducing massage using ice cubes made from marine spring water, moisturising red algae and evening primrose oil.

Non-invasive Body Contouring

Among the top spa trend for 2017 is body contouring. A natural and non-invasive way of shifting stubborn fat, non-invasive body contouring is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to liposuction, with sites like Groupon reporting a huge surge in demand.

There are several different options when it comes to non-invasive body contouring, including low-level laser therapy, ultrasound and radiofrequency. With low-level laser therapy, which is FDA approved, cold laser energy is directed at fatty areas of the body, breaking down fat cells and enabling them to be absorbed by the body. High-intensity ultrasound waves, also FDA approved, disrupt fat cells, causing them to dissolve gradually over time. Radiofrequency delivers controlled energy to fatty areas, creating a deep heat which breaks them down. Although the treatment is not yet FDA approved, it is commonly used at spas and beauty clinics and is widely deemed as safe.

DNA Facials

While it may sound like something that belongs on Jeremy Kyle, DNA testing is fast becoming one of the hottest innovations in high end facials.

Since your genetic make-up plays a huge part in determining your skin health, knowledge of your DNA can provide an unrivalled insight into the type of products that will address your skin issues and weaknesses. By analysing your chromosomes, experts can find data on a range of skincare concerns, such as your collagen and antioxidant levels, your premature ageing bio-marker count, sun damage sensitivity, likelihood of inflammation and more. This insight means that if you have a low premature ageing bio-marker count but high sun sensitivity, for example, then you can stop splurging on plumping products and instead invest in SPF.

DNA testing is being adopted by facialists who take a cheek swab from their clients to gather DNA. The sample is then sent off to a lab (and there are a lot of labs around which now specialise in skin analysis) and once the results come back, subsequent facial treatments can then be tailored using products and techniques which address the client’s core skincare issues.

London facialist Kate Kerr has spearheaded the ‘DNA Facial’, which she describes as a “revolutionary treatment to provide a solution for your anti-ageing plan.” With its lab analysis, DNA facials don’t come cheap and Kate Kerr charges £250 for an initial consultation and skin testing, with each additional facial costing £250.